Esquestria: The House of the Sun - A pony cultist experience

[Sveta08]

Ah. Good.
Was worried for Jade there.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Ah bollocks, we missed out on comforting Rarity because of the siren song of sweet sweet money

 

[Greymere]

Perhaps it is not on Velvet Covers to keep DoA bound?

Perhaps keeping someone who has been imprisoned for untold eons under your yoke is not the right path.

Maybe we can fetch her Frangiklave but it is our daughters who can set her free. And perhaps it is to them she will be the most grateful.

Click to shrink...

Did I say we should keep her bound and not set her free? No. I'm just not sure doing so will actually defrost DoA at all.

Or, to put it another way: as things currently stand between DoA and Velvet, I don't really see why she wouldn't just set herself up in the house, refuse to leave or do anything for us, and watch us like a particularly paranoid hawk.

 

[AuthorTransient]

Oh, by the way, you are Silky Stream. You have been Silky Stream all along. Your entire life, to be precise. Who else would you have been if not yourself?

Click to shrink...

I've been got. Maybe you shouldn't have used a doughnut, but rather an everything bagel.

Spoiler: Gif

View: https://giphy.com/gifs/a24-jamie-lee-curtis-michelle-yeoh-everything-everywhere-all-at-once-G952i4cLWEWJgrsa2j

I'm not going to lie, I also forgot about Rarity.

But we are going to free Axe. If it comes to a choice between using the Frangiclave to open the final gate or to free Axe from her loneliness, I'll choose the latter every time. Staying chained like that, for a Name of Knock... that's not something She deserves.

 

[Pittauro]

We got the 9 (now ten) tastes, which has been useful. Probably more then we realize.

Teaching as well.

It also has narrative benefits.

Click to shrink...

the narrative benefits are mostly from each single lore more than the combination of them all together. I'll acknowledge the 9 tastes thing with Mareinette summon though.

Teaching is, again, a thing about the specific lores more than a "bonus" from understanding them all.

You are Lady Velvet Covers.

Click to shrink...

and you're about to Snekrament?!

Your husband, also, was thrilled… for other reasons. You made a point of Stormchaser being the first pony you told about this, and it goes without saying that-

…

Anyways.

Click to shrink...

So, now that you are not only back on your hoofs, but actually feeling good about yourself, you figure you should check on everypony.

It has been too long since you had your friends over for a tea party. So, given how you don't think you would be able to schedule one in such short notice, this is the least you should do.

Click to shrink...

...no snekrament yet

Still, all you can sense is… well, a pony that feels like Fluttershy, and a pony that definitely feels like Comet Feet. Although, for some reason, you can't help but sense that Fluttershy's presence is slightly stronger, and Comet's is slightly weaker… or perhaps drained?

Click to shrink...

...

seem my previous image, I suppose

But despite that, you can definitely tell that her mane is at the very least disheveled.

And what is more, is she… out of breath? Her cheeks look flustered, almost flushed, and you swear that just now, when she spoke, her breathing sounded like she just ran a marathon.

Click to shrink...

...yep, they definitely did

You think you hear her gulp something dry, and you swear that you heard somepony facehoofing right behind her. Roughly from the direction you can sense Comet Feet.

Click to shrink...

oh, Fluttershy...

Velvet is being surprisingly naive. Then again, I suppose the idea of FLUTTERSHY being... naughty, might just not register.

"He is doing fine," Fluttershy answers almost immediately, with the tone of a pony who clearly is not thinking before she speaks. "Very healthy. Y-yes. Energetic, even! His stamina is gr- Imeanhe'sdoingfine!"

Click to shrink...

Fluttershy, PLEASE, just... tell her you're busy and you'd rather talk another day if it's all the same, pleasethanksbye!

"Y-yes, it's helping a lot. We've been using it every nigh-! I mean, I have be-… no, he has been using it. To rest! Yes, definitely just rest a-and…! IpromiseI'llcleanitbeforereturningitokaythanksbye!"

Click to shrink...

...

...

...uh.

...I think she just gave Velvet ideas. Ideas involving Stormchaser and that heartifact.

After all, you just lent beautiful Fluttershy and brooding Comet Feet a Heart artifact that is specialized in physical health and vigor. So why would these two ponies, who apparently live together in a cottage in the middle of nowhere, be troubled by any of this?

…

Truly, you have no idea, and you certainly don't think you knocked at their door precisely while they were busy doing something important.

Click to shrink...

...She's so deep in Denial she might as well be drowning

But more importantly, she stout pegasus mare is also carrying somepony on her back.

"Jade Whistle's arrest warrant has been successfully carried out," she says.

Click to shrink...

...what?

The same Jade Whistle who you have been trying to see for several days now.

The same Jade Whistle that, when you tried to visit her by going to her musician friend's house, refused to see you, and instead locked herself up in the attic. And who, from what you were told, has refused to eat, speak to anypony, or even sleep since then.

The same Jade Whistle that, when you had Selene quite literally check on her dreams, has apparently convinced herself that she doesn't deserve to have any friends because she "should have seen the danger coming".

Click to shrink...

...I'm very, very, VERY glad we voted to check on her.

"On the same turn that you summon an Incarnadescence, you also fix your flank. And then you… and then you send me away for a commission? How could you be so cruelllll?"

"Rarity, let go of my dress!"

"Please, just a peek of your flank. Just a glimpse! I promise I'll only lick it once!"

"Okay, we are DONE here, let-… let go of me and-!"

"Just ten minutes. Five! Five minutes! Just that, and then I'll be gone for the rest of the turn like you asked, just please-!"

"I- Ack- Sto-… Fine! Stars above, fine, you win! But this is not canon, and we are still being posted on the safe for work section!"

"Yes! Yes! Whatever, I don't care. We can end the update right now! Just let m-"

Click to shrink...

...

...



I didn't think of that!

...Bird, I beg you, I want an extended chapter on this! Just post it in the NSFW section if you have to! I don't even want the lewds, I just want to see more of Rarity's reaction

 

[Steady Gaze]

"On the same turn that you summon an Incarnadescence, you also fix your flank. And then you… and then you send me away for a commission? How could you be so cruelllll?"

Click to shrink...

To be honest, I didn't think a commission was necessarily sending Rarity away. I always figured the client came to Rarity's shop like in the show (see the beginning of A Dog and Pony Show), and she slaved away on it for the rest of the month. Or are we trying to control access to Rarity somehow by not telling anypony where Carousel Boutique is? It would be pretty difficult by now regardless if Rarity had more of an independent mind.

What I'm saying is, I'm with Pittauro: you can absolutely contrive a meeting between us dear author, but you are cruelly denying us!

 

[DelightedOne]

Or are we trying to control access to Rarity somehow by not telling anypony where Carousel Boutique is?

Click to shrink...

That is basically it.

-[] Dame Rarity works best from her secluded boutique. The Velvets will make sure to relay her works to the Needles, though: Cut the problem from the bud, and invest in the image of a mysterious couturier who lives on an undisclosed location. (Rarity's common origins will remain unknown, and her eventual appearances will be all the more impactful because of it. She won't be living the dream anytime soon, though.)

Click to shrink...

This option was the one that won regarding Rarity's "image" so we could avoid the dumb nobles knowing she is a commoner, consequently no one knows she lives in Ponyville(I think) so no one can go to the Boutique.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Cant find the exact quote. But im pretty sure i mentioned, when rarity gained her commission skill, that it involves her going to a high paying customer and creating a piece for them over the course of a month. Very high stress stuff.

But yeah, this is also so she can keep the secret about her origin and whatnot.

 

[Pittauro]

Yeah, I had forgotten that her origins are secret and thus she can't receive her customers here.

I don't remember the commission explicitly mentioning she goes to them, but if it didn't it was still implicit.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You are Velvet Covers, and you have been… thinking.

At first, it was just an idle thought. A flight of fancy, or perhaps a vague mulling, but not really something you thought would take you anywhere.

Then, at some point, you thought that "there might be something more to this".

And then you started to think about it more and more, with greater focus and attention, until finally things just went downhill, as these kinds of thoughts are wont to do.

Now, you can't really think about anything else. Now, these thoughts consume your every waking moment, to the point you can't focus on anything other than this.

This sensation, or perhaps this storm you are going through, is oddly familiar. You haven't felt like this in several years now, but you are pretty sure the first time you felt this way was right after you met… Copper Secateur.

Yes, this is undoubtedly the sensation that, as your husband says, you are caught in a hurricane. This is absolutely the sensation that you are falling into a hole. That you are trapped in a maze that you can't really escape, and that this idea in your mind simply has to mean something.

But here's the thing… the fact that you are falling, or that you are stuck, or that you can't stop thinking about it also tells you that there is something there. There is something more to this, and you are not just circling around some delusion.

Still, whatever answer you might be looking for, or whatever secret is calling to you, has been eluding you thus far.

Or at least, it had been eluding you… until now.

Because you think you got it. You think you know what happens next.



You think you finally understand what you must do.



It is late in the afternoon. The sun is close to setting, but not quite there yet, and the light that comes from the windows is painting everything in a soothing orange as you walk down the corridor of the second floor.

You are currently in your home… at least physically. But in all honesty, it doesn't really fell like that. You may be in your home, but something feels strange. And you know it is not your house that is wrong. Instead, it is you who feel like a stranger here.

Because although you know you are yourself, and you know you are Velvet Covers, you still feel like you are leaving something behind with every step you take. You aren't really abandoning anything, and you know you aren't about to disappear either. But still, you can't help but feel like you will lose a little bit more of yourself, if you follow through with this.

And yet, your hooves will not stop moving.

Eventually, you reach your destination. Inevitably, you make your way down the corridor of the second floor, until you reach the door of a specific guest room.

In the past, this door stood adamantly closed before you. No matter how much strength or power you applied to it, you were never really able to open it. You could yell through it, and heaven knows you did so many times, but ultimately you could never really seek an audience with the being that took residence behind it.

And yet, today, none of that happens. Today, you don't even need to raise a hoof to knock on the door.

Today, the door opens, and welcomes you in, the moment you stop in front of it.

Because today, you finally… understand.

Today, you finally…

"Ae knew ye wuid come."​

A voice, her voice, comes from inside the room.

The interior of the room is pitch black. More than just that, it is dark, and it is damp, and it is cold, and it is unwelcoming. It is a stark contrast to the warm and sunset-bright corridor you are standing on, and that contrast only makes the interior of the room more alien in comparison.

And perhaps this is why the door chose to open itself without any resistance to you.

After all, for all that the door is open before you, the barrier it represents is still there. Because now that you no longer have an excuse of a locked door before you, you can clearly see… you can clearly comprehend that stepping through its threshold is not a decision to be made lightly.

Maybe the door kept itself locked, before, because you were not yet ready. Maybe the door kept itself locked because you did not truly understand what you were asking for, or what you were trying to do by crossing it.

But now… you do. You just do.

And perhaps, the most terrifying thing is that you can no longer stop yourself from crossing it.

You don't even think about it. You don't even order your legs to move. It just happens.

One moment you are standing in the warm and familiar corridor of your home.

And on the next moment, you are standing inside this alien and cold nest.

!!!

The door closes itself behind you. And finally, you are alone with her.



Finally, you are alone with the Daughter-of-Axes.



You know she is looking at you, from within the darkness. You know that, should you close your eyes, you will see much more than a messy room occupied by a grumpy mare. You know that, if you truly try to pierce the darkness either with the glow of your horn or the Moth in your eyelids, you will see a predator. A creature that, despite its chains, is still large enough to crush your home and strong enough to squeeze the life of your bones.

You know all of that, and that is why you don't dare to disturb the darkness.

You don't even blink.

And yet, despite all of that, you are not afraid either.

Because for the first time since you met here, you are not here as an unwelcome intruder.

You might not be here as a welcome guest, but the two of you understand you are the second best thing to that.

"Silky Stream told me something, not long ago," you say, towards the darkness where you know there are no ponies waiting.

And the slightest, faintest noise of something slithering answers you.

"She told me that Knock isn't real. That holes aren't real. That sometimes, what is missing is more important than what is present. It made no sense to her, of course, but the more I thought about it…"

You trail off. Not because you are reminiscing, and not because the creature in the darkness is not interested. But instead, you trail off because she already knows where you are going with that.

A statue is a slab of stone with its imperfections carved off.

A key is a piece of metal with a code scraped off its body.

So why are you still clinging to the hubris that your soul is perfect the way it currently is?

The more you thought about that, the more you think about this, the more you realize that… this is an inevitable conclusion, to anypony who studies the Lores. Not just Knock, but any Lore. Because you may have spent a long time building up your knowledge, and perhaps even what you might call "power". However, it only makes sense that, at some point, you might have to make a few changes in yourself.

Maybe there are things inside of you, things that are innate to everypony's nature but that go unused, that are simply weighing you down.

Maybe there are things inside of you, that aren't really that important, that could be cut off to make room for something else.

Or maybe, just maybe, you just…

"A few months back, when we first met, you said you were willing to bargain with me for something," you say. "You called it an exchange of favors. I would run an errand for you, and in return you would give me the ability to make the trip."

A sharper, louder sound of slithering, comes to your ears. But this time, it is not just from the darkness in front of you. It comes from your sides, and from behind you, and from above you.

You try to ignore the fact that you could hear it, or that you thought you heard it, coming from inside of you. You try to ignore the short gust of wind that just fluttered against your mane, that came from a forked tongue as large as your tail sniffing the air.

"I am here to ask if that offer, and that bargain, still stands," you finish.

You hear, coming from the distance, the sound of something large and heavy settling down. The noise came from somewhere too far away to have come from inside this room, and from a direction that couldn't possibly have come from inside your own house.

But you are long past believing you are still inside your house anyways.

"Do ye even kno' wot yer' asking…?"

The answer comes. Her voice is familiar, but the tone she is speaking with is not. Or rather, you have only very rarely heard her speak like that.

She sounds focused. Concentrated. Maybe even serious. And there is no poison or edge on her words save for those that drip down from her great fangs.

In fact, she doesn't even give you time to answer her question, if it was a question at all.

"Ther' are thresh'olds, an' then ther' are thresh'olds. Ther' are passages, an' then there are holes."

The sensation that something is coiling around you tightens. And for all that nothing is truly touching you, you can feel that the air itself is pressing against your coat, as if being pushed in by a great and constricting presence.

"Every adept reaches a point where thae understand thae're in too deep. A point where they no'ice they crossed a laen, and tha' for all tha' they cuid come back… they dinnae want to. Not anymore."

You feel yourself swallowing something dry. And she sees it, you know she does.

But still, you feel something welling up inside of you because you know what she is talking about. You have already experienced what she is talking about. You know what that line is. You have already crossed it, even.

You have already crossed it nine times.

"Et's a mental thresh'old. The point where ambition becomes stronger than good sense. An' tha's why et's called… a realization. Th' Branding Door dinnae require power or knowledge tae cross it, et only requires the commitment tae never step back from it," her voice says, and for all that her true self does not have shoulders, you swear you can hear her shrug. "Bo' then again, et's impossible tae reach tha' commitment without power and knowledge."

She says that, and then she pauses. But not because she is thinking about anything. Not because she is introspecting or wondering what she should say next.

Instead, as she pauses, you can feel a great pair of predatory eyes focusing on you, from the dank darkness.

"Bo' wot yer askin' me is… different. Ye realize tha', aye?"

The weight of her attention is so much that your breath chokes inside your throat. You have to force yourself not to cough, and it is the best you can do to just take a long and deep breath.

Still, you wouldn't be able to answer her even if you tried. Not with words, at least.

So instead, you silently nod your head.

Even if the sound of the muscles of your neck moving, and of your stiff joints protesting from the strain of attracting the attention of a predator, sounds deafening in your ears.

"The first point o' no return for ev'ry adept is mental. Ye reach it when yer mind lets go o' th' desire tae return. Bo' this… this is more… This next step is a sacrifice. Et's self-mutilation. Et's the loss of the ability itself o' returnin'. Even if ye come tae regret yer decisions, even if ye burn away yer knowledge an' yer power an' yer realization, ye'll be incapable o' coming back."

Something moves. Everything moves. The same way you cannot pull on a chain without dragging its entire length, you can hear the whole world slithering around you as something old and great and long enough to stretch to the horizon begins to move.

And the next time she speaks, her voice is coming from the space right above your body. Her words dripping down on you like the poison that is drooling from her outstretched mouth.



"An' even tho ye kno' all tha'… do ye still wish tae continue?"



The voice asks that

And on that moment, even though you know all the risks, and even though you know everything you could lose, and even though you do not yet know the full extent of her price, you still give her the only possible answer.

Because even in the depths of this pit, whilst surrounded by a monster that is the size of your world, the only thing your eyes can truly see is the light of Glory.

And this, you know, is the path that will lead you up.

"Yes," you say.

And when her jaws close around your body, and her fangs bite deep into your sides, you don't even feel pain.





- - -

- - -

- - -

It is called the Silver Key.

Not "a" Silver Key. "The" Silver Key.

Because although it might function as a key, it is not one that can be crafted or gifted or stolen away. It will never be only yours, the same way it will never be only mine.

It can be shared without being copied.

It can be owned, but it cannot be held.

It is like a memory, or a password that is memorized. But instead of being stored in your mind, it is stored in your soul.

There is a reason why we use poisons, you know. There is a reason why snakes cannot be denied, and why we are known as royalty.

Because this poison, our poison, eats away at the soul.

It is lethal when used by the uninitiated, of course, but then again so is the butcher's knife or the sewing needle.

But we are not butchers, and we are not seamstress. We are key makers. And we use this poison to etch souls into keys, the same way we can use acid to carve the teeth and notches of the objects we craft.

So yes, it will burn you, and it will eat you, and it will strip away parts of you. But it will be applied with precision and skill, and only until your essence has reached the proper shape.

If it hurts, that means you were not ready to have that piece of your soul cut away.

If it hurts, that means you were not properly trained and prepared.

If it hurts, it will never stop hurting, until the poison corrodes everything else.

But if it doesn't hurt, you will be one of us.

Now close your eyes, this won't hurt a bit.

...

"Yes, Master."​

This memory is not yours. This memory is not hers. And yet, this memory belongs to both of you, now. Passed down from key maker to apprentice since the very first time, like a faint signature etched into a masterpiece that is copied out of respect and tradition.

And yet, despite being just a memory, you will live the rest of your life with the surety that those words were meant for you.

Velvet Covers has attained Sacrament in the Lore of Knock. Your Knock is now level five. You have finally attained a Sacrament, and you believe the next step in this and any other Lore would be to achieve Mastery over it.

In return, you have promised the Daughter-of-Axes you will run an errand for her. Technically speaking, you could not uphold your end of the bargain and keep the boons you just earned. However, you believe that would be catastrophic to your relationship with the Snake-Name.

Furthermore, your unconscious and writhing body has been unceremoniously tossed through the Foggy Mirror.

More to follow. Very, very soon.

 

[Jadeturtle]

I forgot how awesome the attainments were to read

 

[DelightedOne]

Holy Mother of Ants(very appropriate for this situation, I know) that was not what I expected the Sacrament obtainment to be(although the payment coming before the task is always a good surprise).

KNOCK: ??? (Level 5); [Patience. Soon.]

Click to shrink...

Why do you tempt us like that?

 

[Witherbrine2671]

-??? [Patient. Soon.]

Click to shrink...

No, never. You except me to be patient when a really cool ability is right there, really? I mean I will, but still. Cool abilities sitting right out of sight.

Your soul is now a key, and reality is the lock. And should you ever find a suitable keyhole, you will be able to turn it. (Further +5 when attempting to open something. And ???)

Click to shrink...

Okay the entire Knock 5 was incredibly cool but this is also very neat. Gotta give props for the whole update as well.

And lastly

Snekrament time!

 

[Rafuki22]

Your Knock is now level six.

Click to shrink...

It should be 5.

Also, nice.

 

[Venerable Ro]

One can't help but wonder as to the scene where we took Baldomare's sacrament first, so that she got to give this speech, but on the other hand Axe has a certain Old World gravitas to her that fits this idea perfectly.

 

[Zxzx24]

Furthermore, your unconscious and writhing body has been unceremoniously tossed through the Foggy Mirror.

Click to shrink...

Never change hun

 

[Pittauro]

well, I have just the time to read the update before going to sleep!

and it's named KNOCK 5! Let's see what our first Sacrament is like, and if we found the Frangiclave!

...and also how many actions it took us.

In the past, this door stood adamantly closed before you. No matter how much strength or power you applied to it, you were never really able to open it. You could yell through it, and heaven knows you did so many times, but ultimately you could never really seek an audience with the being that took residence behind it.

Click to shrink...

technically I think the door opened itself on that turn we had the knock 4 influence! That time we actually seemed to scare Axe a bit after she bit and poisoned us to give us the influence, and Velvet went all "I can't believe you! And here I was trying to be nice to you!"

You trail off. Not because you are reminiscing, and not because the creature in the darkness is not interested. But instead, you trail off because she already knows where you are going with that.

A statue is a slab of stone with its imperfections carved off.

A key is a piece of metal with a code scraped off its body.

So why are you still clinging to the hubris that your soul is perfect the way it currently is?

Click to shrink...

That's an interesting perfective.

Indeed, many things are defined by what they're NOT, or what you REMOVED from the "whole" they were made from.

That feels really close to Forge though. Creation/transformation through controlled destruction.

Maybe there are things inside of you, things that are innate to everypony's nature but that go unused, that are simply weighing you down.

Maybe there are things inside of you, that aren't really that important, that could be cut off to make room for something else.

Click to shrink...

The Second one sounds like our Moth Sacrament.

"Do ye even kno' wot yer' asking…?"

Click to shrink...

not really, but we need the power, and we need your help...

But still, you feel something welling up inside of you because you know what she is talking about. You have already experienced what she is talking about. You know what that line is. You have already crossed it, even.

You have already crossed it nine times.

"Et's a mental thresh'old. The point where ambition becomes stronger than good sense. An' tha's why et's called… a realization. Th' Branding Door dinnae require power or knowledge tae cross it, et only requires the commitment tae never step back from it,"

Click to shrink...

... so lvl 3, the Realization, is the point at which an Adept is... too deep to stop?

no... it's the point where you can no longer go back. the Realization changes you, just like how Velvet can't forget how to see with her eyes closed.

...well, USUALLY. There was a time we had a chance to vote to "forget" all our lores when rejecting the truth of the Worms, but that's a special exception...

"The first point o' no return for ev'ry adept is mental. Ye reach it when yer mind lets go o' th' desire tae return. Bo' this… this is more… This next step is a sacrifice. Et's self-mutilation. Et's the loss of the ability itself o' returnin'. Even if ye come tae regret yer decisions, even if ye burn away yer knowledge an' yer power an' yer realization, ye'll be incapable o' coming back."

Click to shrink...

oh

So if the Realization is mental, the Sacrament is more... physical? real?

Velvet COULD, in theory, have forgotten her Realizations. there's no way to forget a SACRAMENT.

this also puts other Sacraments into perspective. if we see them under the lens of "sacrifice" and "self-mutilation", then... Some of them sounds worse than they seem on the surface. Moth is sacrificing a part of herself she hates. Winter is... sacrificing the fear of death, maybe? Or the hate for death?

Lantern might be a sacrifice of "ignorance". Edge is a sacrifice of innocence and/or peace, I imagine. Grail is, in some way, a sacrifice of decency.

Because although it might function as a key, it is not one that can be crafted or gifted or stolen away. It will never be only yours, the same way it will never be only mine.

It can be shared without being copied.

It can be owned, but it cannot be held.

It is like a memory, or a password that is memorized. But instead of being stored in your mind, it is stored in your soul.

Click to shrink...

So it's more like a spell, or a skill you learn, in a way.

But we are not butchers, and we are not seamstress. We are key makers. And we use this poison to etch souls into keys, the same way we can use acid to carve the teeth and notches of the objects we craft.

Click to shrink...

...Does this mean the Wrong Keys are made of souls? Or is this just about how she'll "make" our souls a Key as the sacrament?

"Yes, Master."​

Click to shrink...

...what?

This memory is not yours. This memory is not hers. And yet, this memory belongs to both of you, now. Passed down from key maker to apprentice since the very first time, like a faint signature etched into a masterpiece that is copied out of respect and tradition.

And yet, despite being just a memory, you will live the rest of your life with the surety that those words were meant for you.

Click to shrink...

as, so that last bit was a memory, gifted through poison.

Velvet Covers has attained Sacrament in the Lore of Knock. Your Knock is now level six. You have finally attained a Sacrament, and you believe the next step in this and any other Lore would be to achieve Mastery over it.

In return, you have promised the Daughter-of-Axes you will run an errand for her. Technically speaking, you could not uphold your end of the bargain and keep the boons you just earned. However, you believe that would be catastrophic to your relationship with the Snake-Name.

Furthermore, your unconscious and writhing body has been unceremoniously tossed through the Foggy Mirror.

More to follow. Very, very soon.

Click to shrink...

wait, level SIX? not 5?! @OurLadyOfWires that sounds like a mistake.

so, lvl 5 is the Sacrament, a change of body and soul made through sacrifice, and lvl 6 seems to be Mastery over this new ability.

-Level 5: Opening a passage always involves a violation. Whether one violates the face of a mountain with a pickaxe, or the laws of the world with a ritual, the opening of a way always requires the removal of what once stood in its place. Even the use of a key is a violation. It just happens that a key applies the minimum amount of force needed, when used in its proper lock, in order to open a passage.
Your soul is now a key, and reality is the lock. And should you ever find a suitable keyhole, you will be able to turn it. (Further +5 when attempting to open something. And ???)

Click to shrink...

our soul is a key, and reality is the lock. I have to wonder WHAT the suitable keyhole will be though.

KNOCK: ??? (Level 5); [Patience. Soon.]

Click to shrink...

Current known trend of the Application bonus:
-Level 0, an entry point: you gain +1 on specific tests.
-Level 1, a subtle hint: you gain +5 on specific tests.
-Level 2, a lesson learned: you gain further +5 on a specific test, and +1 on a status.
-Level 3, a realization: you gain further +5 on a specific test, and you undergo a subtle change of mind and body.
-Level 4, a confident certainty: you gain further +5 on a specific test, and one dice Re-Roll per month, for a test which involves said Lore.
-Level 5, a Sacrament: you gain further +5 on a specific test, and undergo a great change of mind and body.
-Level 6, Mastery: ???

Click to shrink...

Entry Point, Subtle Hint, lesson learned, realization, confident certainty, Sacrament, Mastery.

and not even a mention of the 7th level... then again, what comes after Mastery? I suppose Innovation? Transcendence?

Maybe level 7 is something that REQUIRES Long status (if the quest continues after we become a Long)

 

[Sveta08]

One can't help but wonder as to the scene where we took Baldomare's sacrament first, so that she got to give this speech, but on the other hand Axe has a certain Old World gravitas to her that fits this idea perfectly.

Click to shrink...

Lantern would reveal the flaws
Heart would shake off the fetters
Moth would embrace the change
Grail would relish what is wanted

Edge would hone it down to shape
Forge would mold it by name
Winter would accept the fates consequence
Secret Histories would find the only commonality


The path to Glory leaves but one choice
Rise. Leave all that holds back behind.


The Wolf refuses

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Oh boy here we go

 

[Zxzx24]

In return, you have promised the Daughter-of-Axes you will run an errand for her. Technically speaking, you could not uphold your end of the bargain and keep the boons you just earned. However, you believe that would be catastrophic to your relationship with the Snake-Name.

Click to shrink...

it would also be quite cruel

 

[spiderhellian]

The way my heart started racing when I just saw the title of the update. God that was great.

I agree that I love that it was Axe teaching us the weight of this step. There's a sharpness, and a brutal honesty, and a gravitas she captures. Though my heart goes out to Bird having to write so much dialogue in her accent!

The lore. The sweet sweet snake lore. It's almost here!

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

You lurch. You lurch hard.

You don't feel like you just woke up. You don't feel like you are in a nightmare either. But still, somehow, this is much worse.

The first thing you feel is the sensation of being kicked in the stomach, and everything you have inside of you comes out through your mouth in reaction.

It hurts. This hurts. Your entire body hurts. And you are only vaguely aware that your face is turned downwards as you spew out the contents of your guts.

Everything around you is cold. Everything is cold and hard and painful. And the worst part is that you don't even know where you are. You don't even know who you are.

A loud, scratching noise comes to your ears, and it takes you too long to realize it's the sound of you coughing. After that, probably out of sheer survival reflexes, comes the sound of heaving. Also from you.

"Ahh… ahh… ahh…"

But eventually, even if painfully, you manage to get your bearings.

And slowly, you realize that it isn't really your body that is hurting. It's something that's inside your body. Something that is inside you, and outside you, and covering you like a cape and steering you like the captain of a ship.

It is your essence that is hurting. Your very soul, even.

It hurts because parts of it were eaten away. It hurts because it was etched with acid and poison and memories that were created before recorded history.

It hurts… because you made it. Because it worked.



You are Velvet Covers.

And you have successfully completed a voyage to a place that is farther away than tomorrow's horizon.



"I… I am… I did it?" you say out loud, the words scratching painfully against the inside of your throat.

And your pain, unwelcome and deep-seated as it may be, actually helps you ground yourself. It reminds you of what just happened, which in turn reminds you of how you got here, which in turn reminds you of…

"Ye dinnae fokken die. Good."

A voice, a terribly familiar voice, comes from… somewhere nearby. And that finally makes you realize that you can do more with your body than just be in misery.

"I… where am… Axe?" you say out loud, the words feeling wrong as they come out of a mouth that is too dry. But still, you are able to speak.

You are able to speak, and to move around, and to throw away the damp and disgusting thing that is covering you.

Everything was hard and cold when you came to your senses. But now you realize your surroundings are actually soft. You seem to be on a bed of sorts. And after a good amount of awkward thrashing, you finally manage to throw away whatever sheets were covering you.

"Aye, aye, et's me. Now get on yer fokken hooves, aye? Keeping this gate open is a pain."

You look around you and see… well, you can only see that it is too dark for you to see anything. You blink, but only a deeper darkness greets you. You don't yet remember why that is worrying, but you get the feeling that this is wrong.

Still, despite the darkness all around you, your eyes finally settle on something… familiar.

You are on a bed, and probably inside a room. There is just enough light, faint as it might be, for you to see the vaguest of contours.

However, on one of the corners of the room, you can see what you are absolutely sure is a mirror.

You know it is a mirror because what little light is bathing this room is coming from its surface. You know it is a mirror because, although you cannot see your own reflection, you can see what looks like a vortex of clouds, or perhaps fog.

But most of all, you know it is a mirror because Axe's voice is coming from it.

"Are… are you there? Is this how you got me here?" you ask, saying those words towards the foggy mirror.

And for all that you cannot see the snakemare, you swear you can hear her rolling her eyes.

Which in turn reminds you of… everything else.

"Yes, you did and… and we made it. I'm here!" you say, feeling a smile come to your face for the first time. Because you made it. You made it! You have no idea of how momentous this is, but whatever Axe did to you worked, and you realize that only means you are more because of it.

Although…

"Wait, I'm here but… where is here, exactly?" you ask.

"It dinnae matter, does it?" her answer, annoyed as ever, comes through the clouded mirror. "Now, wot ae need ye tae do es-"

"No, Axe, you don't understand. I… this is kind of important?" you say, feeling the snakemare's annoyance grow, even though you cannot truly see her. "I really need to know where I am. I mean, what if this place is dangerous?"

"Thar's nothin' ae can tell ye. So just le' me tell ye wot yer supposed tae do an ye can-"

"Axe, please, you are being unreasonable," you interrupt her again, feeling your own pulse quicken as she once again refuses to tell you the very basic of what you need to know. "I mean, you brought me here, right? You have to know something. Anything at all! How else can I prepare for whatever you want me to do if you don't-"



"AE. DINNAE. FOKKEN. KNO!"



But this time, the mare interrupts you so suddenly that the mirror almost shakes.

But more than just that, you don't just feel anger in her voice. There is something more than just that, and it isn't all directed at you. To the point that you feel at the same time that you have just been slapped in the face, and that you are witnessing something like a dam breaking or a bridge cracking.

"Es tha' wot ye want me tae sae?! Tha' aem fokken useless?! Tha' they left me tae ROT? Ae dinnae kno! I dinnae know where they went! I dinnae kno wo' they were doin'! All ae kno is tha' SHE NEVER CAME BACK!"

You just stand there, honestly stunned.

Because what she just said, and the way she just said it. Her very tone, even, from the dryness of her voice to the shakiness in her words.

You cannot see her, through the mirror. You have no idea what her expression looks like. But it would not surprise you if the young mare is…

You just stand there in silence, as you listen to the mare as she heaves.

And for a moment, you think you hear what sounds like a soft sniff.

"Ae kno… wot direction they went. Ae kno enoff tae send you there, and tae pull ye back. But… but me chains aren't long enoff for me tae go meself! So… are… are ye goin' tae keep yer end of the deal or not?"

You have already heard Axe angry. You have already heard Axe when she was serious. But this might be the very first time that you ever heard Axe speaking like this.

She sounds… terribly lonely. Scared. Maybe even desperate. And somehow, although you have no idea why, you can tell that she is looking at the ground while she speaks.

A small part of you is glad that you aren't really standing next to her, because you are not sure what you could say that the mare wouldn't take the wrong way. But another part of you, a much larger one, wish you were next to her right now. Because for all that she doesn't take well to other ponies, nopony really deserves to be alone when they sound like… that.

Still, you are here, and she is somewhere else, so all that you can do is answer her question.

"Yes… I'll do it," you say.

And you have to bite down the I am sorry, that nearly came out of your mouth.

"… aye… Ae want ye tae look fer my… well, it dinnae matter. Take this."

She says that, and moments later something rolls out of the liquid surface of the mirror. It is a medallion, you can tell, that apparently was tied to her own braid, judging by the strands of purple mane that are still sticking to it.

The medallion, you see, has an odd symbol on its surface. The symbol itself looks like a trio of knots, or an overly fancy collection of circles. However, the medallion seems to have been cut, or slashed, at some point. And the ancient air that the medallion has somehow tells you that the slash itself is an important part of its symbolism.

"Wear this, somewhere that can be seen. An' stroll around with it, if ye can… they'll either recognize ye, or she… well, tha's all I need for ye to repay me."

She says that, and with the faint noise of a distant breeze the fog in the mirror disappears.

Leaving you alone, in a dark room, with the ancient medallion that she gave you.

You think you understand. More than just what she wants you to do, you think you understand what is going on.

Because you are not sure where you heard it from, whether if Axe herself let it slip, or if it was from Baldomare, or maybe you just had the knowledge imparted to you while wandering the Mansus. But still, you are pretty sure that Axe was part of a… group, of sorts. A cult, or perhaps and order, or maybe even a sisterhood. And of course, unless Axe was their leader, it stands to reason that the ponies with whom she mingled would have been at least as… competent, or powerful, as she is.

So, the fact that she has been stuck in the Mansus all alone this whole time certainly raises questions.

And this place, which seems to be "too far" for her to reach herself, might just be the very last hint she had of… wherever those ponies went. Of wherever "she" went, whoever that "she" might be.

…

You let out a long, sad sigh. You don't really know what to make of this. You don't really know how to feel. After all, this whole time, Axe has been belligerent at best, and intentionally unpleasant at worst. This whole time, you thought of her as an unruly teenager who somehow had too much power in her hooves.

But the way she spoke to you just now, the way her tone felt, you… well, you can't help but think of her as only a teenager, without any of the other negative aspects attached to it. A lonely, confused, abandoned teenager who has been trapped by herself for longer than the Princesses walked Equestria.

And that makes you feel…

You have no idea how much time has passed. But eventually, you eyes begin to adjust to the darkness. Either that, or there is enough light coming from a nearby window, thanks to a rising sun, that you can see enough of your surroundings now.

And naturally, your eyes immediately fall on the mirror that is right in front of you. The mirror where you could never see Axe, but that somehow told you more about her than you ever knew.

You look at that mirror and… and…

…

……

!!!!!!!!!

And your eyes go wide in surprise.

More than just that, your entire body bristles in reaction, every last muscle in your body tensing up as you realize something had been observing you this whole time. Some instinctive and ancient part of your pony brain triggering your fight-or-flight instincts as you realize you are staring at a predator.

A scream threatens to come out of your mouth, but you bite down at the last moment, because…because…!

"W-wait…" you say to yourself, as your adrenaline-filled body and your quickened heartbeat slowly realizes that… well, that nothing has really happened.

And as the seconds stretch by, the rational side of your brain finally retakes the reins of your body, and reminds you that you are still looking at a mirror.

But if you are looking at a mirror, why in Equestria…?

"Why in Tartarus…" you say to yourself.

And the mouth of the figure you are looking at mimics the movement with disgusting familiarity.

Because why in all of Equestria is there a monkey… a simian, looking back at you from the mirror?





- - -

- - -

- - -





You hate this.

You hate this.

This is disgusting. This is wrong. This is just not right!

You have been duped. Duped! And this has to be that horrible snakemare's fault. Because it just makes sense! The moment you feel a sliver of pity for her, it turns out she did something like this to you?!

"How am I supposed to walk with just two legs? And what are these horrible little things on my forelegs? And why the hay are these on my chest?!"

You have no tail. You have no fur on your body to protect you from the elements. And your mane is all wrong.

You are… this is… this is horrible! A disaster!!!

And what is more, the more you think about it, the more these… memories come to you. This feels vaguely familiar to that time you switched lives with another you, while studying your own Brand. But it is also different in a way you can't quite put your hoof on.

Still, none of that matters. Because what they hay are you supposed to do? How the hay does your life even works?!

It… you don't… there is no instruction manual to any of this and…!

"Screw it. I am not going to learn this the hard way," you say to yourself.

Because this body… this life, it has to belong to somepony, right? You don't know if you completely hijacked your own body, or if this monkey-you is still somewhere inside your brain. But whatever the answer may be, you can tell that you still have memories inside of you.

So, you will dig for them. You will dig for them, and you will force your body to help you navigate this.

With that in mind, you close your eyes, and then you push into your own mind and-



[Training montage(?), breakpoints 50/60/80/100/120]

[Roll: 34 + 14 (Learning) + 40 (Secret Histories, level 4) + 40 (I Have Been Here Before) = 128]

[Final breakpoint reached, no re-rolls invoked]



You push, and then you push, and then you drag out everything you find.

And just like that, you remember the basics of common sense, such as how to operate your body and walk on two sun-damned legs.

And then you remember the basic details of your own life, such as your name, and where you live, and what your job is.

And then you remember a swathe of other, equally important things. Such as the ponies… the people that surround you, and the little things that you would need to navigate this life without calling any unwanted attention.

And then you remember about the Lores, and how to properly use them here.

And then you realize… something else, that you might want to keep your eyes open for.

You remember all of that, and then you… you…

Dear heavens… no, dear God, you will need some time to parse through all of this.

Lucky for you, today seems to be a Sunday.

You let out a loud, unsightly groan. But nopo-… nobody is here to hear it. After all, it seems you have not married anyone called Stormchaser here, much to your concern.

It also seems that you are still a cripple here. You definitely will want to address that before the day is done.

But more importantly, you have to prepare for tomorrow. Because you think, you hope, that you already have a plan for how to do what Axe asked you.

However, there are several things you will have to do in order to accomplish that…





- - -

- - -

- - -





You are Professor Velvet Covers, a faculty member of Canterlot High School in charge of teaching history.

You are a human, if that word means anything to anypony, and you will do your best to say "anyone" instead of "anypony" from now on.

Still, even though those statements seem simple enough, you have to admit that there is a lot to unpack here.

Because this place that the Daughter-of-Axes sent you to… this world, if you can even call it that. There is no other way to describe it. This place feels like a dream.

It is a very real dream, mind you. A dream that is more lucid and real than the Mansus itself. It is, as far as you can tell, a waking reality.

But still… whenever you start paying attention to it, certain things just don't make sense. The farther away you try to look, or the more you explore certain details, the less things make sense.

However, the opposite is also true. If you don't think too much about it, and if you just treat this as a dream-that-is-real, then everything seems to be simple enough. Everything just makes sense, as long as you don't try to dig too deep.

So, again, you are a… human. An ugly, bipedal simian that is somehow capable of speech.

You are also a professor at a school.

And even though everything around you looks like a parody of the real world, the fact remains that you are also surrounded by places, and faces, that are disturbingly familiar.

You will need more time, a lot more time, to properly explore all of this. And you probably will have to prioritize certain things over others. However, you are pretty sure that right now you understand enough. You understand things well enough and, more importantly, you have a class to teach today.

So, that is exactly what you are going to do.

You have already been to college, back in the real world, so everything here feels oddly familiar. The entire setting, of corridors and classrooms and everything else, is something you can navigate well enough. Plus, you have your memories, and the familiarity of your own body, to help you guide you through the motions

Which means you are confident enough in yourself as you stride down the corridor, and let your body guide you to the classroom where you are supposed to go.



"Good morning everyp-one. Take your seats, class is in session!"



You say that as you open the door of the classroom (with your hands, since you don't have a horn). And just like you expected, you are immediately greeted by a sight that is… well, familiar to your body, but definitely alien to the rest of your mind.

Because right in front of you is what you can only describe as a haggle of teenagers. Monkey-teenagers, mind you, not proper pony ones. Still, despite the setting being utterly sensible, with desks and chairs and everything else, the creatures inhabiting them are anything but.

However, it seems that teenagers act the same no matter what species they are. So, it doesn't surprise you to see that only half the class even acknowledged your entry.

But that was expected… because you see, as you repaired your leg yesterday and sifted through your memories, you very quickly came to a conclusion of sorts. You might even call it a realization, as sad as that might sound.

And what you discovered is that "Professor Velvet Covers" is… an extremely boring and sad woman.

No, really, you mean it. You don't mean to be rude to yourself, but there is no other way to say it.

You could see it from the depressingly small selection of clothes in your wardrobe. You could see it from the memories you have of your previous classes, where all your students were either sleeping or not paying attention. Hell, you could see it from the fact there is a Stormchaser-shaped hole in your life and no ring on your left hand.

But you aren't saying that just to be mean to yourself. Quite on the contrary.

Because the thing is that, under normal circumstances, that discovery would be… sad. Just sad, but not really a problem. However, these are not normal circumstances. These are not normal circumstances, and the task Axe gave you requires you to call attention to yourself.

After all, you are here for one reason, and one reason only. And that is to have the medallion you have tied to your hair be noticed by… whoever you are looking for.

So, you need to make waves. You need to make waves, and you need to call attention, and there is no way that the quiet and unassuming Velvet Covers of this world would ever manage any of that.

Consequently, you need to make some changes. You already made some changes. And today, in this very classroom, you will do more than just that.

You repaired your leg. You tossed away the fancy (and perhaps even expensive) umbrella that apparently doubled as your cane. You are wearing a skirt that is perhaps half as long as what your other self usually wears, and you are showing more skin than this Velvet Covers would ever imagine.

By no means you are being improper. Especially given how your students are all teenagers. But still, you are a grown woman, and you know exactly what you are doing.

"Settle down, everyone! I know you all can hear me," you say out loud, although your voice is more amused than anything as you make your way to your desk in front of the classroom.

You don't even bother to hide the smile on your face, as the dawning realization slowly settles over your students.

Because slowly, but surely, your students began to notice you.

And they are finally realizing that something is not right.

"Excuse me, miss?" a student, not anyone you can recognize yet, raises her hand as she speaks. Her dark hair and thick glasses make you think she is the resident know-it-all of your class, but you will have to wait and see. "We are supposed to have History with Professor Covers right now. Are you a substitute teacher?"

She asks that, and the confusion in her voice is just enough for everyone else to finally settle down and properly look at you.

And for a moment, for a precious span of five seconds, the class is completely quiet.

But oh, these five seconds are more than enough for a you.

"Whatever you mean by that, dear?" you reply to the student, watching her tilt her head slightly at that. "I am Professor Covers. Can't you recognize me?"

You say that, and you watch your students react with confusion. Some of them rub her eyes, some of them look sideways towards their peers. But none of them really stop looking at you.

And how could they, the difference between you and the woman that taught them classes last week is quite literally night from day.

But before any of them can really react, and before the know-it-all can say anything else, you act.

Or rather, you act.

It is a simple movement. One that every mare knows, and that probably every woman in this world already tried at some point. It is a simple movement, but one that is as effective as it is natural.

You simple move a hand to the back of your neck, towards your hair, and then you remove a pin that was holding your hair in place, and then you gently shake your head to let your long hair down.

And the smell of your perfume, sweet and smooth and covered with the overpowering influence that surrounds your chest like a ruby necklace, immediately fills the room.

The student who raised her hand looks utterly shocked, her eyes going wide in surprise, and everyone else reacts in a different way.

Well… the colts- the boys all react the same way, but the girls all have different reactions that range from confusion to disbelief.

Good, you think to yourself. And now that the children are all quite and properly paying attention, you can begin your lesson.

"Now then, shall we take attendance?" you ask.

And all your students, with one exception, are filled with delight as you call their names.



- - -



Class was interesting. Enjoyable, even. But still, it was mostly interesting.

Thankfully, the memories of your original body were more than enough for you to be competent at your job. And for all that your mouth was saying words and reciting historical facts that… didn't really make any sense, you could still tell that you were teaching, and that your students were learning.

But more than that, class was interesting because it told you a lot about this… world. This world, or this dream, or this place that shouldn't exist yet does.

Because you see, as you took attendance you recognized… several names. And the students who responded to those names, despite their unnerving appearance, also had a strong resemblance to the ponies you know.

But more than just their names and appearances, they also acted the same.

For example, when you asked for someone to be your helper for today, to write certain things on the board… well, almost everyone raised their hands.

But the young lady who almost jumped out of her desk, her face filled with excitement, was definitely Rarity.

And the shy girl who only raised her hand after she was sure you picked someone else was definitely Fluttershy.

Both of them are… human teenagers. Both of them are somehow the same age. And yet, their names, and appearances, and even their demeanors are all there.

You also recognized Applejack, sure, but most of all…



"Excuse me, Professor Covers, but wasn't independence declared in 1822?"



… most of all, you recognized her.

"Technically yes, Miss Sparkle. But our sovereignty was only recognized with the treaty of 1825," you answered.

And you watched as she… you watched as the person who is definitely Twilight Sparkle angrily write several notes on her book.

And for a moment, the only thing you could think of is that…

Here, she doesn't hate you.

Here, she has not lost everything.

Here, she is fine.

Of course, she is gone with the wind the moment the bell rings. She doesn't stay behind with the crowd of teenagers who are suspiciously dragging their feet for an excuse to stay in the classroom with you for a little longer. And she certainly doesn't approach you like Rarity does.

However, you can't help but think that…

…

Well, you have too many things to do. You will figure this out as things go by.





[You have successfully began the special event "Through the Foggy Mirror"]





You are Professor Velvet Covers. Your sole mission here is to search for whoever the Daughter-of-Axes is looking for, and in order to do that you will need to make the rounds and be seen.

However, there is more than enough time to pursue other interests. So, even though it is impossible to do everything, you can still go here and there as you parade your medallion.

(See the notes below for more information)


PERSONAL ACTION POINTS REMAINING: 4


You have made time in the real world, so you will have time here. What shall you do with it?


You will return home, back through the foggy mirror.

[] Return home. (Return home and redistribute all your personal action points)
[VETOED, you must spend at least one action here, since you just arrived]


You will stay a while and… (Costs one personal action point. Pick THREE options)

[] Alright, WHERE is Stormchaser? (Look for your dear beloved)
[] They are young and impressionable. Thankfully, you are a responsible adult. (Hang out with Rarity and Fluttershy, your real-life confidantes)
[] "Miss Sparkle? See me after class." (Approach Twilight Sparkle)
[] "Is there anything on your mind, Miss Jack?" (Approach Applejack)
[] "To be honest? I think your job is better than mine." (Approach Cheerilee. She is here… somewhere)
[] "Yes, it's about your daughter. What class I teach her? Well…" (Approach the Rich parents)
[] This feels like a dream. Treat it like one. Explore this strange place.
[] This place has a library. Go take a look.
[] What is this "cellphone" all the kids are talking about? Why do you have one? And what is this "Internet" thing?
[] You are here for a reason. Get. It. Done. (Further your search for Axe's… contact)

Spoiler: Additional information

How this will work:

You currently have four (4) plan actions set aside for this Sacrament. So, with every "cycle" you have the choice to either spend one action to stay here for a bit longer (and pick THREE of the available choices), or you can return home and stop for this turn.

And just so you know, this isn't just going to be a "side story" that will not impact Velvet Covers' life back in Equestria. On the contrary. Some of the available choices will give you little to no reward, while some of the available choices are entire "routes" that, if followed to the end, will give you interesting choices in the end. And ultimately, there is DoA's request on the backdrop which must be furthered by doing the search.

To make it clear, you will only progress DoA's task by picking the last option to "Get. It. Done."

But don't worry. If you successfully finish the search, you will not be forced to immediately leave. Instead, you can continue to explore this world until you run out of your four plan-actions.

Vote in PLANS (Edit: ) APPROVAL. The three options with the most votes will be picked.. 12 hours moratorium for people to get their bearings.

Feel free to ask any questions. But to be clear, this is exactly what it looks like.

Welcome to the Equestria Girls mini-arc, in the world beyond the foggy mirror.

 

[AuthorTransient]

Oh my Glory...

This is exactly what it looks like. Wow. Did not expect this. Wait, has this been percolating in your brainmeats the entire time? I don't know how you managed to not drop subtle hints everywhere, I certainly would have.

Poor Velvet in this world - just that change in behavior, expression, and clothing was enough to have her students not recognize her. And that SH check! Smashing it out of the park again.

EDIT: I want to say... one for Internet, one for exploration, and one for Axe's contract? I was expecting something like a lonely frozen mountain, not Equestria Girls.

 

[spiderhellian]

Oh my god. Very soon indeed.

"Es tha' wot ye want me tae sae?! Tha' aem fokken useless?! Tha' they left me tae ROT? Ae dinnae kno! I dinnae know where they went! I dinnae kno wo' they were doin'! All ae kno is tha' SHE NEVER CAME BACK!"

Click to shrink...

Oh….

Oh Axe.

Oh Axe

The one left behind. The only one, left behind.

So many snakes saved. And one left to rot?

You are Professor Velvet Covers, a faculty member of Canterlot High School in charge of teaching history.

You are a human, if that word means anything to anypony, and you will do your best to say "anyone" instead of "anypony" from now on.

Click to shrink...

AHAHAHAHA WHAT?????

Oh my god what.

Among the myriad of theories I had THIS was never one of them.

God you must have been looking forward to this, Bird.

And what a myriad of decisions you've given us to make.

… I think first things first, we go for Axe's favour. That is why we are here and who we need to find. @OurLadyOfWires Can we double-up on an option? Or is it pick exactly three, and you'll get them all done insofar as you can in the course of that day?

Man it would be cool to have 6 actions here. Not sure it would be better, but it sure would be cool. And the SH influence paid off — also a reminder that as of yet we still have our reroll, so if we save an action we can get a very good odds SH sacrament action in.

 

[Demilich]

The real question thus is as follows...
...is Cultist Simulator influence covers this world?
I guess we either will find out, or not

 

[Greymere]

[Training montage(?), breakpoints 50/60/80/100/120]

[Roll: 34 + 14 (Learning) + 40 (Secret Histories, level 4) + 40 (I Have Been Here Before) = 128]

[Final breakpoint reached, no re-rolls invoked]

Click to shrink...

Well. I don't think this is how anyone expected SH to be involved

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

I am pretty sure at least one person predicted this, but unfortunately I didn't bookmark that comment when it was said way back then.

Now,

… I think first things first, we go for Axe's favour. That is why we are here and who we need to find. @OurLadyOfWires Can we double-up on an option? Or is it pick exactly three, and you'll get them all done insofar as you can in the course of that day?

Click to shrink...

You cannot double on actions. You must pick exactly three actions on your plan.

But just explain things a little better. First of all, I have already read several "visual novel" videogames. If anyone here ever played/read those (such as Fate/Stay Night of Muv Luv) this is something that approaches the format I have in mind.

Second, you have invested four actions in this Sacrament, so (assuming you do not stop for this turn) you will have four "cycles" here. Each cycle you will be able to pick three actions. If an action you picked on a previous cycle bears continuing, you will be able to "follow up" on it. (EDIT: ) because like I said, mini-routes are hidden in certain options. And if an action is mostly finished to my contentment, I will simply not offer it on the next cycle.
So, in theory, you have a total of "twelve" picks throughout your stay here.

But remember, leaving early is always an option. And leaving early means redistributing your actions back in Equestria. Furthermore, you are here (ostensibly) to do what Axe asked of you. You will not be forced to leave once that is done, but since you can only pick one action a single time per "cycle" you might want not to neglect that.



I'll deal with the several dang typos I already found later.

 

[Enna's Fractal Wings]

Is our main priority looking for Axe's... "friend"?
And probably to see if there's any way to save our Twilight. Maybe.

 

[Cochimetl]

Yeah, since finishing Axe's favour doesn't eject us from the foggy mirror, picking her option every time until it's done is a no-brainer.
I'd also like to do that Twilight option.

 

[spiderhellian]

Imagine not taking a Twilight option any time it is offered. Couldn't be Velvet Covers!

… I really can't imagine the impact. Other than it being very, very, sad.

---

I'd like to try the Rich option. It's actually a situation that between the time and Mareinette, Velvet knows very little about. I'm curious what we'd learn here.

Plus, how can we not visit a library?!?!